Italian GP at Monza this weekend
Think of the great race at Spa in
Belgium, and now pray for the same at Monza in Italy. This
is another driver’s circuit; however, like many other
circuits, Monza has not been a single layout, but a series
of more than a dozen layouts which have ranged in length
from 2.4 km to 9 km. The circuit was opened in the Monza
Royal Park, near Milan, in 1922 and featured bankings,
though these were demolished in 1939. The bankings which
featured in some races, 1955-69, were new structures built
on the format of the original. Bankings were used for the
Italian GP in 1955, ‘56, ‘60 and ‘61, and were last used for
racing of any form in 1969 when the concrete became in need
of substantial resurfacing and rebuilding.
The 1971 Italian GP holds the record for the fastest-ever
Formula One race but, emphatically, that is not the same as
saying the fastest race for Grand Prix cars. That honor
remains in the possession of the 1937 Avusrennen.
After 1971, the circuit underwent some revisions to
discourage slipstreaming and to lower the average lap speed.
Chicanes were added in 1976 and, in 1994, the second Lesmo
Bend was tightened and the Curve Grande was re-profiled.
The World Championship is still very open, so we can expect
that the main protagonists will still be trying very hard.
Both Brawn GP drivers have everything to go for, being first
and second in the championship. There are five races left,
so that is a potential 50 points up for grabs. Button is
only 16 points in front of Barichello, 19 in front of Vettel
and 20.5 in front of Webber. Raikkonen is 38 points behind,
so realistically has no real chance of snaring the title,
but the way Barichello and Vettel have been progressing, it
would take a brave man to put money down on Button right
now.
We will be watching from our perches at Jameson’s Irish Pub
(Soi AR, next to Nova Park) and the racing commences at 7
p.m., but check your local TV feed to be sure, as some
providers can switch to delayed telecasting. We watch the
South African feed which has no adverts and runs at real
time. Join us around 6 p.m. for dinner, a beer and a chat
before the race begins at 7 p.m.
Mercedes-Benz shows its
plug-in technology
Mercedes-Benz will take the battle up to
Chevrolet’s plug-in hybrid Volt when it unveils its latest
version of the BlueZero eco-friendly concept in Frankfurt
this month. The German manufacturer has already showcased
full electric and fuel cell versions of the BlueZero, but
this new plug-in hybrid concept for the Frankfurt motor show
features a diesel three-cylinder engine to recharge
batteries and extend the vehicle’s range. This means the car
will always run on battery power.
Plug-in
Benz.
With the debut of the plug-in version - named the BlueZero
E-cell Plus - Mercedes-Benz has locked into place the final
piece of its three-pronged BlueZero strategy. The
range-extending battery-electric powertrain will go into
production before 2015, according to Daimler sources.
Built around the patented sandwich-floor chassis of the
existing B-Class, the BlueZero sees Mercedes mate up a 1.0
liter, 50 kW three-cylinder diesel engine directly to a
generator, which then drives the car’s electric motor. Known
as a “Series” hybrid, it is a step more advanced than the
“Parallel” hybrids offered by Lexus and Honda, which drive
the wheels through either the electric or the petrol motors.
Incidentally this is the same principle as used first by Dr
Ferdinand Porsche in 1902. That’s 107 years ago, so it isn’t
“new” technology!
The BlueZero is recharged by the three-cylinder diesel
engine, which has been lifted from the smart for two.
Benz sits the diesel engine inside the sandwich floor at the
back of the car, the 18 kW/hour Lithium-ion battery pack
sits inside the middle of the floor and the electric motor
sits in the engine bay, driving the front wheels.
As yet, there are no official fuel consumption numbers,
because the diesel engine only ever charges the battery pack
and never directly drives the wheels, but Benz suggests it
will emit around 32 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
Even so, it will still cover the zero to 100 km/h in less
than 11 seconds and will hit 120 km/h as a top speed. On the
flip side of the performance coin, Benz claims the five-door
hatchback will stretch to 100 km on a single battery charge,
while the advanced battery pack can be fully recharged in
under half an hour. Coupled with its diesel engine, the
BlueZero E-cell Plus has a range of almost 600 km.
The cementing of the car’s future means Benz will also
retain the expensive sandwich floor architecture, while the
next generation A - and B-Class cars can move to cheaper
single-floor designs when they go on sale in 2011. Insiders
say that the Benz concept will definitely go into
production. Whether that is limited or series production
remains to be seen.
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I asked what RPM was the red line
in an E-Type Jaguar? It was a very slow 5,500 RPM.
So to this week. The GT40 was named because it was 40
inches high. Ford has recreated the GT40 and has called
it the Ford GT. What height is this new one?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first
correct answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
Two plus Four racing
at Bira
Round 3 of the exciting Pro Racing Series
2009 was held at Bira International Circuit Pattaya
August 29-30. With almost 200 entries included in Pro
Car, Pro Truck and MMRRC, the event was extremely well
attended, and included both cars, pick-ups and
motorcycles.
Two
wheeled action
Live TV broadcasting via NBT and True Sport channel on
Sunday 30 was also a great touch to stimulate both
competitors and Thai audiences.
The race program began with a stunt motorcycle show with
plenty of mono-wheels and donuts on the main straight. The
first competition was the Super Bike 1000 Pro A-B, with
victory going to Naruchit Keitmaneesri.
After the big bikes, smaller engined bikes took to the
track, with my favorite, the half-pint sized Kemin Kubo
showing the way to his bigger competitors. This lad is so
small he cannot reach the ground while sitting on the
saddle, so on the grid he has to stand beside his bike and
then hop on when the race starts!
This series comes somewhere between the very professional
SuperCar series and the amateur SuperClub series. Promoted
for both four wheels and two, the events come thick and fast
and there is something for everybody.
The 4th round of the Pro Racing Series 2009 will be on
October 10-11, 2009 at Bira International Circuit Pattaya as
usual. For more information, visit the website at
http://www.gpimotorsport.com.
Provisional calendar
for 2010
The FIA have released a calendar for 2010 which
includes Canada, but no US GP. Donington is on the list, but
there is much doubt that Donington will be completed by
then. If that is the case, the British GP will revert to
Silverstone. The dates given are below:
Mar 14 - Bahrain (Sakhir)
Mar 28 - Australia (Melbourne)
Apr 4 - Malaysia (Sepang)
Apr 25 - Turkey (Istanbul)
May 9 - Spain (Barcelona)
May 23 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
Jun 6 - Canada (Montreal)
Jun 27 - Europe (Valencia)
Jul 11 - Great Britain (Donington Park)
Jul 25 - Germany (Hockenheim)
Aug 1 - Hungary (Budapest)
Aug 22 - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
Sep 5 - Italy (Monza)
Sep 19 - China (Shanghai)
Sep 26 - Singapore (Singapore)
Oct 10 - Japan (Suzuka)
Oct 24 - Brazil (Interlagos)
Nov 7 - Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
The Valencia, Hungary and Singapore bore-fests are still on
the calendar, I regret to say. But when has Bernie and the
FIA ever listened to the enthusiasts? Please open your
anti-pig poo umbrellas at the count of three.
Natter Nosh and Noggin
The monthly car enthusiasts meeting will be at
Jameson’s Irish Pub on Soi AR next to the Nova Park
development. The car (and bike) enthusiasts meet on the
second Monday of the month, so this time it is Monday
(September 14) at Jameson’s at 7 p.m. This is a totally
informal meeting of like-minded souls to discuss their pet
motoring (and motorcycling) loves and hates. Many
interesting debates come from these evenings. Come along and
meet guys who have a common interest in cars and bikes, and
enjoy the Jameson’s Steak night special, washed down with a
few beers.
Huge meeting at Bira
this weekend too
The combined SuperCar Thailand and the Asian
Festival of Speed event is on at the local Bira circuit,
with practice on the 9th and 10th and racing Friday 11,
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13.
There will be many categories running, including the AFOS
touring car groups and then the heavily modified SuperCars
which includes the GT3 Porsches. This is potentially the
biggest meeting of the year, though the SuperCar meeting at
Bang Saen is numerically bigger.
Definitely not a meeting to miss, but be like me and go
Saturday, because Sunday is the Jesters Children’s Fair and
also not to be missed if you have kids.
